Lesson 6: News Summary

Find a short news article from an English website for young readers. Read it and write a summary.

• Materials: Computer with internet access, paper
• Focus: Past tense verbs, main idea identification
• Recommended sources: Time for Kids, NewsELA (set to easy level)
• Extension: Write three questions you would ask the people in the news story.

Lesson 6: News Summary

Overview

This informative lesson helps you develop your English reading and writing skills through summarizing news articles. By reading and condensing news stories, you’ll practice identifying main ideas, using past tense verbs correctly, and writing concise summaries while also learning about current events around the world.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the main idea and key details in a news article
• Practice using past tense verbs correctly
• Develop summarizing skills
• Build vocabulary related to current events
• Improve reading comprehension
• Learn to distinguish between facts and opinions

Materials Needed

• Computer or tablet with internet access
• Paper or notebook
• Pen or pencil
• Dictionary or online translation tool
• Optional: Printer to print out articles
• Optional: Highlighter to mark key information

Preparation (15 minutes)

1. Find appropriate news sources for English learners:
   • Time for Kids: www.timeforkids.com
   • NewsELA: www.newsela.com (set to easier reading levels)
   • BBC Learning English: www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
   • Breaking News English: www.breakingnewsenglish.com
   • News in Levels: www.newsinlevels.com
2. Choose a news category that interests you:
   • Science and technology
   • Sports
   • Entertainment
   • World news
   • Environment
   • Health
3. Create a vocabulary reference page with these categories:
   • News verbs: reported, announced, stated, explained, revealed, confirmed, denied
   • Transition words: however, furthermore, additionally, meanwhile, consequently
   • 5W1H words: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How

News Summary Activity (40 minutes)

Part 1: Selecting and Reading an Article (15 minutes)

1. Browse one of the recommended websites and choose a short news article (200-400 words is ideal for beginners)
2. Before reading in detail, look at:
   • The headline
   • Any subheadings
   • Photos and captions
   • The first paragraph
3. Read the full article once to get a general understanding
4. Read it again more carefully, highlighting or writing down:
   • Names of people and places mentioned
   • Dates and times
   • Key facts and figures
   • Any words you don’t understand (look these up)

Part 2: Analyzing the Article (10 minutes)

1. Answer these questions about the article:
   • Who is the article about?
   • What happened?
   • When did it happen?
   • Where did it happen?
   • Why did it happen?
   • How did it happen?
2. Identify 3-5 new vocabulary words from the article:
   • Write down each word
   • Write its definition
   • Write the sentence from the article where it appears

Part 3: Writing Your Summary (15 minutes)

1. Write a summary of the article in 3-5 sentences:
   • First sentence: Introduce the main topic using who, what, when, where
   • Middle sentences: Include the most important details
   • Final sentence: Mention the outcome or why this news matters
2. Check your summary for:
   • Correct past tense verbs
   • Proper nouns (names, places) spelled correctly
   • Clear and concise language
   • Only the most important information (no minor details)

Example News Summary Format

Extension Activities

1. Compare News Sources: Find the same story reported on two different websites and compare how they present it.
2. Create Interview Questions: Write 5 questions you would ask the people in the news story.
3. Follow-Up Story: Write a short paragraph predicting what might happen next in this news story.
4. Personal Response: Write a few sentences about your opinion on the news event.
5. News Report: Record yourself presenting the news story as if you were a TV reporter.

News Reading and Writing Tips

• News articles usually put the most important information first
• The first paragraph (lead) typically answers who, what, when, and where
• Focus on facts rather than opinions when summarizing
• Use past tense for most news events
• Be concise – a good summary is brief but complete
• Use your own words instead of copying sentences from the article

News Categories and Vocabulary

Different news categories often use specific vocabulary:

• Politics: government, election, policy, vote, debate
• Business: economy, company, market, profit, investment
• Sports: tournament, championship, athlete, score, victory
• Science: research, discovery, experiment, innovation, technology
• Entertainment: celebrity, film, music, performance, award
• Environment: climate change, conservation, pollution, sustainability

Self-Assessment Checklist

After completing your news summary, review your work using this checklist:

• Did I identify the main idea correctly?
• Did I include the most important facts?
• Did I use past tense verbs correctly?
• Is my summary clear and concise?
• Did I use my own words rather than copying from the article?
• Did I learn at least 3 new vocabulary words?

Benefits of Regular News Reading

• Improves reading comprehension
• Builds vocabulary in context
• Develops critical thinking skills
• Increases knowledge of current events and world issues
• Provides authentic language examples
• Prepares for academic writing tasks

Remember to choose news articles that match your English level and interest areas. Starting with simpler news sites for English learners will help you build confidence before moving to more complex news sources. Try to make news reading a regular habit – even 15 minutes several times a week will significantly improve your English skills!